Indiana University Athletics
Christina Loukas Named Big Ten Diver of the Week
10/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 24, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana diver Christina Loukas has been named the Big Ten Diver of the Week, the league office announced Oct. 24.
Loukas won both springboard competitions in the Hoosiers' season opener on Saturday, Oct. 21, a 171-127 victory over Kentucky. She did it the hard way, topping four 2006 All-Americans in Kentucky's Joey Brown (honorable mention, one-meter and platform) and defending platform national champion Taryn Ignacio (first team, one-meter) and IU teammates Lindsay Weigle (honorable mention, one- and three-meter; first team, platform) and Heather Chapman (honorable mention, platform) in both events.
"I'm excited," Loukas said of winning the award. "It's a pretty good start, I guess, for the season. I can't complain. Wow. I wasn't really expecting it."
Loukas' score of 373.95 in the three-meter was an Indiana school record, more than two points better than her own previous mark, and a whopping 16.20 higher than the previous three-meter dual-meet school record, previously held by Weigle. Loukas also posted a score of 301.05 to take the one-meter against Kentucky.
The junior from Riverwoods, Ill., was named Big Ten Diver of the Week for the fourth time in her career. The last time came on Jan. 31, 2006.
"It was well-deserved," head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber said. "I'd like to see her dive like that at the World Selection Camp. She did some nice stuff. She's done a good job of hanging in there. It's been a rough semester academically. Some days we don't actually get to practice because of class conflicts. When we are here, we just try to train hard and train smart. That was nice to see, that we're still getting her academic goals accomplished, but also finding a way to her athletic goal accomplished. I give her all the credit."
Loukas earned All-America status in both the one-meter, three-meter and platform in both her freshman and sophomore years for the Hoosiers.
In addition to her Big Ten award, Loukas was also named the IU Athlete of the Week on Monday, Oct. 23.
Indiana's swimming and diving team is back in action on Friday, Oct. 27, when it will open Big Ten action with a home meet against Northwestern at 4 p.m.
